Specification of William Parker : preparing animal charcoal.

  • William Parker
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of William Parker : preparing animal charcoal. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/8 page 3
    Parker s Improvements in Preparing Animal Charcoal. packed and rammed, and until the crucible be completely filled. The crucibles being so filled or charged, I then place them in the furnace (also herein-after described), one standing over and upon the other in succession, covering the upper crucible of each set or column with a close-fitting cover, which I 5 confine tightly to its place with a cross piece or bridle, and I carefully apply a luting of loom or clay to the fitting parts of the crucibles. The cover of the upper crucibles and its centre opening is also to be well luted, and a small hole pierced in the luting of the centre opening to allow the escape of the gas evolved during the process. 10 The figure and construction of the crucibles is shewn in Figure 3, and the mode in which I arrange them upon each other and in the furnaces is shewn in Figure 1 and 2. I also use fresh bones, or any animal matter, or fatty or oily matter, or any resinous or bituminous substances in admixture with the deteriorated material aforesaid, any of which matters or substances produce 15 the herein-before stated effects ; but in practice I prefer the former on account of greater economy. When the crucibles are arranged and luted, as aforesaid, I close the oven with bricks, and having carefully luted them, I make the fire in the fire-room beneath; I then maintain the fire at a sufficient heat to bring the crucibles to a bright red color. Before the crucibles attain this degree of 20 heat and color, the materials with which they are charged will evolve a con¬ siderable quantity of gas, which will escape through the lutings between them. The gas so escaping will be ignited by the heat of the furnace, and its com¬ bustion will materially assist the operation by giving heat to the upper crucibles which are furthest from the action of the fires. I continue this 25 operation of baking or burning until the flame from the tops of the crucibles is nearly extinct; I then cease all further supply of fuel, and prevent all admission of air to the furnace by closing the doors of the ash-pits. I let the furnace and the crucibles remain in this state until the crucibles are so far reduced in heat as to be of a dull red color. The operation of restoring and 30 revivifying is now completed, and I then throw the furnace open in order to cool the crucibles sufficiently to allow of their being removed, when their contents are taken out and ground, sifted, and prepared for use in the usual or most convenient way suitable to its intended use. The form and dimensions and the arrangement of the crucibles which I employ in my said manufacture, 35 and which I have already referred to in Figure 3 of my explanatory Drawing, are such as to allow7 the crucibles to be easily placed in the chamber of the furnace or to be removed from it, and also to afford an equal carbonization of their contents; and further, that the gas given out by each of the lower crucibles may serve as fuel for heating those above. And these ends I obtain
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3